Mailbox door mounting arrangement

Abstract

A door for a mailbox that has an open end to be selectively closed by the door, the mailbox being of the free standing type most frequently encountered in rural areas, is pivotally mounted on the mailbox by an improved hinging arrangement. A solid flat bar is secured to the door by an appropriate fastening arrangement, such as rivets. Transversely extending supporting arms, one at each end of the flat bar, are pivotedly connected to opposite sides of the mailbox by an appropriate mounting structure, such as rivets that are not completely tightened. The supporting arms may be integrally formed with the flat bar, and a transversely extending flange may also be integrally formed with the bar to provide additional strength.

I claim: 
     
       1. A mounting arrangement for a mailbox door, the mailbox having an open end to be selectively closed by a door, comprising: a rigid flat bar extending across the door adjacent the bottom thereof;   fastening means for securing said flat bar to the door to strengthen the door against distortion, said fastening means precluding relative movement between said flat bar and the door;   supporting members rigidly connected to said flat bar and extending generally transversely thereto at each end thereof; and   mounting means for pivotally connecting said supporting members to either side of the mailbox, the connection of said supporting members to the side of the mailbox and the use of said rigid flat bar stengthening the mailbox as well as the door against distortion.   
     
     
       2. A mounting arrangement is claimed in claim 1 wherein said flat bar and said supporting members are integrally formed. 
     
     
       3. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprises three rivets rigidly interconnecting said flat bar and the door. 
     
     
       4. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises two rivets, each of said rivets interconnecting one of said supporting members and a side of the mailbox. 
     
     
       5. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising a strengthening flange along one side of said flat bar. 
     
     
       6. A mounting arrangement for a mailbox, the mailbox having an open end to be selectively closed by the door, comprising: a flat bar extending across the door adjacent the bottom thereof;   A strengthening flange integrally formed with said flat bar and extending generally transversely thereto for substantially the entire length thereof;   three fastening rivets rigidly securing said flat bar to the door at spaced intervals therealong;   a pair of supporting arms, integrally formed with said flat bar, one of said supporting arms at each end of said flat bar and extending generally transversely to said bar in the same direction as said strengthening flange, said supporting arms extending along opposite sides of the mailbox; and   a pair of support rivets, each of said support rivets connecting an associated one of said supporting arms to a side of the mailbox, said support rivets not being completely tightened so that the door is pivotally mounted on the mailbox.   
     
     
       7. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of said supporting arms comprises: a first portion connected to said flat bar and extending transversely thereto, the distance separating said first portions being less than the width of the mailbox;   a second portion spaced from said first portion and extending transversely to said flat bar, the distance separating said second portions substantially equaling the width of the mailbox, so that said second portions pass adjacent the inner surfaces of each side of the mailbox; and   a third portion interconnecting said first portion and said second portion.   
     
     
       8. A mounting arrangement for a mailbox, the mailbox having an open end to be selectively closed by a door, comprising: a flat bar extending across the door adjacent the bottom thereof;   a strengthening flange integrally formed with said flat bar and extending generally transversely thereto for substantially the entire length thereof;   fastening means rigidly securing said flat bar to the door at spaced intervals therealong;   a pair of supporting arms, integrally formed with said flat bar, one of said supporting arms at each end of said flat bar and extending generally transversely to said bar in the same direction as said strengthening flange, said supporting arms extending along opposite sides of the mailbox; and   a pair of support rivets, each of said support rivets connecting an associated one of said supporting arms to a side of the mailbox, said support rivets not being completely tightened so that the door is pivotally mounted on the mailbox.   
     
     
       9. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 8 wherein each of said supporting arms comprises: a first portion connected to said flat bar and extending transversely thereto, the distance separating said first portions being less than the width of the mailbox;   a second portion spaced from said first portion and extending transversely to said flat bar, the distance separating said second portions substantially equaling the width of the mailbox, so that said second portions pass adjacent the inner surfaces of each side of the mailbox; and   a third portion interconnecting said first portion and said second portion.   
     
     
       10. A mounting arrangement for a mailbox door, the mailbox having an open end to be selectively closed by a door, comprising: a rigid member having a length substantially the same as the width of the open end of the mailbox;   fastening means for securing said rigid member to the mailbox door adjacent the bottom end thereof to strengthen the door against distortion, said fastening means precluding relative movement between said rigid member and the door;   supporting members fixedly connected to said rigid member and extending generally transversely thereto at each end thereof; and   mounting means for pivotally connecting one of said supporting members to each side of the mailbox, the connection of said supporting members to the side of the mailbox and the use of said flat bar strengthening the mailbox as well as the door against distortions.